Article support



Oct. 19, 1965 P. c. CULVER 3,212,743

ARTICLE SUPPORT Filed Oct. 2, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I 22 26 39 Z w 2 2520 L W 1 um 46 I 12 46 t I I I INVENTOR PctaZC. Cull/67 United StatesPatent 3,212,743 ARTICLE SUPPORT Paul C. Culver, RED. 5, Quantico Road,Salisbury, Md. Filed Oct. 2, 1964, Ser. No. 401,085 14 Claims. (Cl.248-313) This invention relates to a support for holding a rimmedarticle in a fixed position, and more particularly for holding articlessuch as containers in a position in which they would otherwise be likelyto topple over.

When articles such as rimmed, flanged or beaded containers are stored orare on display, it is essential that they be held in a fixed position.This is especially important when these articles are stored on movingvehicles or displayed in a suspended position where they are likely totopple over. There has thus been a long standing need for a device whichcan effectively hold such rimmed articles in position and which issufliciently low in cost to be available for wide use by the averageperson.

An object of this invention is to provide a simple and economicalsupport for holding rimmed or flanged articles in a fixed position.

A further object of this invention is to provide such a device in whichthe articles can be easily inserted and removed.

In accordance with this invention, the article support includes achannel shaped body having a central web and a pair of side flanges. Thelower end of the web has a hook for receiving the lower rim of thecontainer. A slidable latch is between the flanges with its hook endprojecting over the web. To insert an article, such as a rimmedcontainer, the container is tilted and its upper rim slipped into thehook of the latch. The container is then simultaneously pivoted towardthe web and raised to spread the hooks apart until the lower rim of thecontainer can be inserted in the hook at the bottom of the web. Thecontainer is then released and effectively locked in place. For removalthe procedure is reversed with the container being raised to free itslower rim, and the upper rim is then simply withdrawn from the latch.

In an advantageous form of this invention the hook end of the slidaiblelatch is formed by bending the end substantially perpendicular to thelatch tongue and then bending the outermost portion of the free end backtoward the tongue and web at an angle to the web. In this form of theinvention the container is inserted into the support by tilting thecontainer and placing its lower rim on the bottom hook. The container isthen pivoted toward the web. As the container contacts the upperinclined end of the latch, the latch rises up and over the top rim ofthe container to effectively lock it in place. For removal the containeris raised to free its lower rim', and the upper rim is then withdrawn.

In an advantageous form of this invention, the upper ends of the sideflanges are bent inwardly toward each other with the latch tonguebetween the web and the bent over flange ends. A plurality of functionsare performed by this arrangement. For example, the flanges space theweb from the object to which the support is secured so that the latchcan freely slide up and down. The flanges, however, also prevent anysideward movement of the latch. One of the bent over ends of the flangesmay be in the path of motion of a projection on the latch to prevent thelatch from being raised completely out of contact with the web. If thesupport is mounted on an object of curved configuration, the corners ofthe bent over ends may be canted or cut-off to accommodate the curvedsurface of the object.

The latch may be biased to return to its original position either by theweight of the latch itself, or in another form of this invention byresilent means. In the latter "ice case one of the flanges has a hollowprojection at its side and the latch tongue has a post at its bottom.One end of a spring is then secured in the hollow projection while theother end reacts against the post to urge the latch back toward itsoriginal position.

Novel features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent to one skilled in the art from a reading of the followingdescription in conjunction with the accompanying drawings whereinsimilar reference characters refer to similar parts and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of one embodiment of this invention in one phaseof operation;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing another phase of operation;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a plurality of the supports of FIGS. 1-2;

FIG. 4 is a front view of one of the supports of FIGS. 1-3 mounted on aflat surface;

FIG. 5 is a top view of one of the supports of FIGS. 1-3 mounted on acurved surface;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken through FIG. 3 along the line6-6;

FIG. 7 is a rear view of the support shown in FIGS. 1-6;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the support shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a rear view of a support of another embodiment of thisinvention;

FIG. 10 is a side view of the support shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a rear view of a support of still another embodiment of thisinvention;

FIG. 12 is a side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 11; and

FIG. 13 is a side view of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 11-12 in onephase of operation.

As shown in FIGS. 1-4, support 10 includes a channel shaped body 12having a central web 14 and a pair of side flanges 16 and 18. Astationary hook 20 is secured to the lower end of web 14 while aslideable latch 22 is arranged between flanges 16, 18 with its hook end23 projecting over web 14. An article or container 24 is easily insertedin support 10 as shown in FIGS. l-2 by first inserting its upper bead orrim 26 in hook 23. Container 24 is then simultaneously raised andshifted toward support 12 as shown by the arrows in FIG. 1. Whencontainer 24 is raised, latch 22 is also raised to spread hooks 20 and23 until the lower rim or bead 28 of container 24 can be inserted inhook 20 as shown in FIG. 2. Container 24 is then released andeffectively locked in position between hooks 20 and 23.

As shown in FIGS. 7-8, the lower portion of web 14 is simply bent upwardto form hook 20. Latch 22 is inserted between flanges 16 and 18 ofchannel shaped body 12. The latch 22 fits relatively snugly between theflanges so that sideward or twisting movement is prevented, whilepermitting latch 22 to freely slide up and down. Both latch 22 and body12 are made, for example, of cold rolled steel. The upper end of latchtongue 30 is bent over to form a hook 23 which projects over web 14 asshown in FIG. 8.

As best seen in FIG. 7, tongue 30 has a pair of slits 32 which define abent up projection 34. The ends 36 and 38 of flanges 16 and 18respectively are also bent toward each other as shown in FIG. 7.

Advantageously, these bent ends serve a plurality of functions. Forexample, when support 10 is secured to a fixed object, such as post 40shown in FIG. 1 or wall 42 shown in FIG. 4, flanges 16 and 18 act asspacers to permit plate 30 to freely slide between web 14 and the fixedobject. End 38 of flange 18 also acts as a convenient stop member toprevent latch 22 from being completely withdrawn away from support body12 as shown in FIG. 7. This is accomplished -because end tion.

toward web 14 at, for example, a 45 angle.

--the central portion as shown in FIGS. 7-8.

38 is disposed in the path of motion of projection 34 on tongue 30. Thuswhen container 34 is raised for insertion in support 12, tongue 30 canbe raised only until projection 34 contacts end 38 of flange 18. Ends 36and '38 of flange 16 and 18 respectively also serve as guide members toassure tongue 30 of remaining close to or in contact with web 14 whentongue 30 is elevated or released. Additionally, flanges 16 and 18 actas reacting members for contacting the fixed article such as post 40 orwall 42.

A pair of slots 44 are in flanges 16 and 18. As shown in FIGS. 1-3, astrap clamp 46, for example, is inserted through slots 4 and either asingle support (FIGS. 1-2) or a plurality of supports (FIG. 3) can beconveniently 1 secured to a round surfaced object such as pole 40. Asmost clearly shown in FIG. 5, the corners of flanged :ends 36 and 38 arecut-01f or chamfered at a 45 angle 4), for example can be insertedthrough portion .46 and i still not project beyond the flat, smoothsurface of web 14.

FIGS. 9-10 show another form of support 10 which is identical in allrespects to the support shown in FIGS. 7-8 except for the followingdifferences. of support 10A is spring biased in the downward direc- A'somewhat'hollow or tubular projection 50 is stamped from the side offlange 18, while plate A has a post 52 at its bottom. Post 52 is groovedat 54 as shown in FIG. 10. As more clearly shown in FIG. 9, one end 56of a spring 58 is housed in projection 50 vwhile the other end 60 ofspring 58 is seated in groove 54 and reacts against post 52 to urgelatch 22A downward. Additionally, the shapes of the hooks may bereversed, if desired, as later described with respect tosupport 10B. 1

' The suport 10B shown'in FIGS. 11-13 is similar to support 10 of FIGS.7-8 with following exceptions. As shown in FIGS. 11-12 the lower hook20B is formed by bending the end of web 14 in the shape of a squaredoflU. In other words hook' 20B is first bent substantially perpendicular tothe plane or the main portion of web 14 and its free end is then bentback upward substantially parallel to web 14. The hook 23B, however, isformed by bending the upper end of latch tongue 30B substantiallyperpendicular to web 14 and then back This embodiments is particularlyadvantageous with flat top containers in that the upper hook 22Bprojects a greater distance over rim 26 of container 24 than the U-shaped hook 23 shown in FIG. 8. However, .for use on, for example,aerosol dispensers 60"(FIG. 3) which are dome shaped, the smallerU-shaped hook 23 is more effective at the top.

Another important difference between support 10B and supports 10 and 10Ais the stop means for limiting the movement of the sliding latch. Asshown in FIGS. 11-12 web 14 containsan extruded hole or tab in additionto extruded hole 46B. Extruded hole 46B is, incidentally, in the lowerportion of web 14 and not in Tongue 30B of latch 22B has a somewhatelongated or elliptically shaped hole 37. During assembly hole 37 ispositioned over extruded tab 35 so that tab 35' protrudes through latchplate 30B. Under normal conditions (as shown in FIG. 12) the edge ofhook 23B rests against web 14 and latch 22B is thus prevented furtherdownward movement. During insertion of container 24 latch 22B is limitedin its upward movement when tab 35 strikes the lower edge of hole 37.This arrangement Latch 22A 1 has the advantage that force is not appliedagainst bentover flange 38 whenever a container is inserted in thesupport. Additionally, the tab-hole arrangement, 35 and 37, provides amore positive stop means for limiting the movement of the latch.

FIG. 13 shows support 10B in its initial phase of operation. Lower rim28 of container 24 is inserted in hook 20B. Container is then pivotedtoward support 10B on panel or wall 42. When upper rim 26 strikes theinclined end 23B of latch 22B and container 24 is continued to bepivoted toward web 14 of support 10B, latch 22B is automatically forcedupward until rim 28 can be slipped under hook end 23B. For removalcontainer 24 is raised until rim 28 can be withdrawn from hook 20 B. 1

With the arrangement shown in FIGS. 1-1-13 latch 22B is automaticallyraised only the distance necessary to insert upper rim 28. It istherefore unnecessary to raise the latch its full amount, which wouldcause a utilization of the stop means, every time a container isinserted in the support. Additionally, during insertion the container ispivoted against the stationary, not the movable, hook thus eliminatingany tendency of the container slipjping; out of the hook.

What is claimed is:

1. A support for holding rimmed articles, comprising a channel shapedbody including a-central web and a pair of side flanges, securing meansfor fastening said body to a fixed object, a hook at the bottom of saidweb, a slidable latch having a tongue disposed between said flanges, anda hook at the upper end of said tongue projecting over said web anddisposed toward said hook at the bottom of said web.

2. A support as set forth in claim 1 wherein the upper ends of saidflanges are inwardly bent toward each other, said tongue being betweensaid web, and said inwardly bent flanges, a projection on said tongue,and one of said bent over ends being'in the path of motion of saidprojection whereby said tongue is prevented from being raised completelyaway from said web.

3. A support as set forth in claim 2 wherein the cor- .ners of said bentover ends are chamfered to accommodate a round surface of said fixedobject.

4. A support as set forth in claim 2 wherein said securing meansincludes slots in said flanges.

5. A support as set forth in claim 2 wherein the outer surface of saidweb is smooth and flat, a portion of said .web projecting inward towardsaid flanges and having a ,hole for comprising said securing means.

6. A support as set forth in claim 5 wherein securing means alsoincludes slots in the sides of said flanges.

7. A support as set forth in claim 2 wherein a hollow projection is onone of said flanges, a post being at the bottom of said tongue, a springhaving a pair of free ends, one of said free ends being housed in saidhollow projection, and other of said free ends reacting against saidpost.

8. A support as set forth in claim 2 wherein the lower end of said webis bent upward to form said hook at the 'bottom of said web, the upperend of said tongue being bent downward to form said hook on said latch,and said tongue being approximately as wide as the distance between saidflanges.

9. A support as :set forth in claim 8 wherein one of said hooks is bentsubstantially perpendicular to said web with its free end beingsubstantially parallel to said web, and the other of said hooks beingformed by being bent substantially perpendicular to said web with itsfree end being bent back toward said web.

10. A support as set forth in claim 1 wherein the upper ends of saidflanges are inwardly bent toward each other, said tongue being betweensaid web and said inwardly bent flanges, and stop means on said tongueand said web for limiting the amount of movement of said latch.

11. A support as set forth in claim 10 wherein the free end of said hookat the upper end of said flange is inclined toward said web.

12. A support as set forth in claim 11 wherein said stop means includesa tab on said web and a hole in said tongue, said tab being positionedin said hole.

13. A support as set forth in claim 12 wherein said tab is an extrudedhole in said web, and said hole in said tongue is elongated.

14. A support as set forth in claim 10 wherein said securing meansincludes an extruded hole in the lower portion of said web.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,931,612 4/60Graber 248-214 2,95 9,3 8 8 1 1/60 Fogle 248-231 3,091,424 5/ 63 Yegge2483 13 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

1. A SUPPORT FOR HOLDING RIMMED ARTICLES, COMPRISING A CHANNEL SHAPEDBODY INCLUDING A CENTRAL WEB AND A PAIR OF SIDE FLANGES, SECURING MEANSFOR FASTENING SAID BODY TO A FIXED OBJECT, A HOOK AT THE BOTTOM OF SAIDWEB, A SLIDABLE LATCH HAVING A TONGUE DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID FLANGES, ANDA HOOK AT THE UPPER END OF SAID TONGUE PROJECTING OVER SAID WEB ANDDISPOSED TOWARD SAID HOOK AT THE BOTTOM OF SAID WEB.